Immunoassays for detecting chlamydial antigens or antibodies thereto using recombinant or synthetic major outer membrane protein polypeptides as substitute antigens

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions are provided for the production of a polypeptide which is immunologically cross-reactive with a naturally-occurring major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis. A DNA construct including a replication system recognized by E. coli, and an MOMP gene under the transcriptional control of a β-glactosidase promoter and terminator is provided. Recombinant phage λgtll/L2/33 was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, on Jan. 10, 1985 and granted accession no. 40157. L2 B9-F DNA was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection on Dec. 31, 1985, and granted accession No. 40217.

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 08/144,095, filed Oct. 28, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/691,639, filed Apr. 25, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 06/818,523, filed Jan. 13, 1986, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 06/692,001, filed Jan. 14, 1985, now abandoned, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Chlamydia trachomatis is a major human pathogen responsible for such diseases as trachoma, inclusion conjunctivitis, pneumonia, lymphogranuloma venereum, and mucous membrane genital tract infections such as cervicitis and urethritis. The latter infections may develop systemic complications resulting in epididymitis, salpingitis, or perihepatitis. Thus, it would be of great medical interest to develop reagents and vaccines useful in the diagnosis and treatment of patients infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis species are divided into two biovars, the trachoma biovar and the lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) biovar, based on the disease inducing characteristics of the species. Each biovar, in turn, includes a number of serovars based on specific serological determinants. The trachoma biovar contains twelve known serovars, while the LGV biovar includes three known serovars. Unique serological determinants which are characteristic of the species, biovar, and serovar have been associated with the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), which protein accounts for over 60% of the total cell wall protein synthesized during chlamydial development. The major outer membrane protein of each serovar appears to have a unique structure and includes species-specific, biovar-specific, and serovar-specific epitopes, allowing Chlamydia trachomatis to be classified by reaction with a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for the various epitopes. The molecular weight of the various MOMP's generally ranges from about 38 kD to 45 kD. The serovars display varying antigenic complexity, with certain serovars eliciting broad cross-reactivity with others in the same biovar, while other serovars display little or no such cross-reactivity.

Vaccines utilizing purified and unpurified preparations of intact Chlamydia trachomatis have been prepared and tested on monkeys. While successful protection against subsequent challenge with the same chlamydial serovar was achieved, it was found that heterologous serovar challenge resulted in more severe pathology than that experienced by controls who had not been immunized. In human trials, immunization with the vaccines afforded significant protection against the serovar of the vaccine for up to two years, but hypersensitivity resulted from infection with heterologous serovars.

2. Description of the Relevant Art

The nature of the major outer membrane protein and its relation to the biovars and serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis are discussed in Grayston and Wang (1975) J. Infect. Dis. 132:87-105; Stephens et al. (1982) J. Immunol. 128:1083-1089; and Caldwell et al. (1981) Infect. Immun. 31:1161-1176. Inhibition of infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis by both anti-chlamydial antisera and monoclonal antibodies has been demonstrated. Caldwell and Perry (1982) Infect. Immun. 38:745-754; and Clark et al. (1982) Infect. Immun. 38:1273-1278. Vaccine trials conducted with intact chlamydial elementary bodies are reported by Collier (1961) Lancet 1:795-800; Wang et al. (1967) Amer. J. Ophthal. 63:1615-1630; and Woolridge et al. (1967) Amer. J. Ophthal. 63:1645-1653. The cloning and expression of a gene encoding a 74,000 dalton chlamydial antigen in E. coli is reported by Stephens et al. (1983) Abstracts Annual Meeting American Society of Microbiology, B29, p. 35. Stephens et al. failed to obtain expression of a major outer membrane protein. Wenman and Lovett (1982) Nature 296:68-70, report the expression of a 19,000 dalton Chlamydia trachomatis polypeptide. The polypeptide does not appear to be involved in the major outer membrane protein. Allan et al. (1984) Infect. Immun. 45:637-641, recently reported the cloning of the major outer membrane protein gene. Nano et al. (1985) Infec. Immun. 45:637-641 report the sequencing of the first 25 N-terminal amino acids of the major outer membrane protein and the cloning of at least a portion of the gene. An immunoassay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,899.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Polypeptide compositions having immunological activity corresponding to that of a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis are produced by expressing a chimeric DNA construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding at least a portion of the MOMP under the regulatory control of a regulatory system recognized by a unicellular expression host. The MOMP polynucleotide may code for the entire protein or for a fragment thereof, and may be expressed in conjunction with another structural gene to yield a fused translation product. Such polypeptide compositions will be characterized by the presence of non-interfering amounts of substances derived from the expression, which presence may be used to distinguish the polypeptides of the present invention from the natural polypeptides. The polypeptide compositions of the present invention are useful as substitutes for the naturally-occurring MOMP's of Chlamydia trachomatis, particularly as immunological reagents, e.g., in serological assays to detect the presence of antibodies in blood, the immunogenic substance in vaccines, and the like. The MOMP polynucleotides will also be useful as labelled probes for diagnostics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the sequence of inserted DNA and its restriction sites for the vector λgtll/L2/33; and

FIG. 2 depicts the DNA sequence and amino acid sequence for the MOMP L₂ serovar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Methods and compositions are provided for the efficient expression of polypeptides demonstrating immunological activity analogous to that of a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis. By analogous immunological activity, it is meant that, when administered to a vertebrate, the polypeptides will elicit an immunological response which is cross-reactive with antibodies elicited by administration of the natural MOMP. The present invention employs a DNA construct including a MOMP polynucleotide or fragment thereof encoding a polypeptide under the transcriptional and translational control of suitable regulatory sequences. MOMP polypeptides free from other chlamydial antigens are obtained by expressing the MOMP polynucleotides in a unicellular host other than Chlamydia trachomatis.

The MOMP polynucleotides of the present invention may be initially derived from any of the chlamydial serovars and may be employed in a natural or modified form. MOMP nucleotides having a sequence corresponding to an intact natural MOMP gene will usually be employed when it is desired to express the entire MOMP, although it will be possible to alter the sequence for a desired purpose, e.g., to conform to the codon bias of the expression host (as discussed below), or to create or delete restriction sites, so long as the amino acid sequence is not significantly altered. Shorter DNA sequences corresponding to portions of the MOMP gene will be employed when it is desired to produce only a fragment of the natural proteins. Usually, such sequences will encode for an epitopic region(s), comprising at least 27 bp, usually at least 36 bp, preferably at least 45 bp, and may be much longer.

It will sometimes be desirable to express the MOMP polynucleotide together with other gene(s) in order to provide fused translation products having desirable properties. For example, when producing low molecular weight MOMP polypeptide fragments (below about 5 kD), it may be desirable to fuse the MOMP polypeptide to an immunogenic carrier, e.g., tetanus toxoid or hepatitis B surface antigen. It is also possible to fuse MOMP fragments from more than one serovar to each other and/or a gene expressing a suitable immunogenic carrier. Conveniently, the MOMP polynucleotide will be inserted in proper reading frame with the fused gene and under the regulatory control of the regulatory system of the fused gene. Recovery of the gene product may be facilitated by employing a secretory protein as the fused gene product, as described below.

The MOMP polypeptides may be glycosylated, partially glycosylated, or unglycosylated, depending on the nature of the expression host. Generally, prokaryotes such as E. coli will provide no glycosylation of the translated MOMP gene products, while yeast and mammalian cell culture will provide partial or substantial glycosylation. Thus, it will be possible to vary the final MOMP product by appropriate selection of the expression host.

The MOMP polynucleotide may be synthetic or natural, or combinations thereof. A natural MOMP gene (or a portion thereof) may be obtained by preparing a Chlamydia trachomatis genomic library and screening for the presence of the MOMP gene. Screening may be accomplished using antibodies for the gene product or using labelled DNA probes specific for the polynucleotide. Both methods are exemplifed in the Experimental section hereinafter. Suitable antibodies are commercially available or may be prepared from purified MOMP obtained from Chlamydia trachomatis by well known techniques. Suitable DNA probes may be obtained based on the amino acid sequence of the MOMP, or based on the polynucleotide sequence which is reported hereinafter for the MOMP of the L₂ serovar (see FIG. 2). Conveniently, the λgtll/L2/33 was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 on Jan. 10, 1985 and designated accession no. 40157 clone which has been deposited in connection with this patent application may be labelled and used as a screening probe. A specific method for selecting a clone expressing the MOMP of the L₂ serovar from a Chlamydia trachomatis genomic library is set forth in the Experimental section hereinafter. This method can be modified to allow for selection of MOMP gene(s) from other serovars.

Synthetic polynucleotide sequences encoding for at least a portion of the MOMP gene of Chlamydia trachomatis may also find use, either alone or in combination with the naturally-occurring sequences. Coding for the synthetic sequences may be based on either the reported amino acid sequences for the MOMP's or on the polynucleotide sequences which are determined from the MOMP genes by known techniques. When used for preparing polypeptides as immunological reagents or as vaccines, it is usually desirable that the synthetic nucleotide fragment code for an oligopeptide corresponding to an epitopic site of the natural MOMP. Often, such epitopic sites may be inferred from the folding rules of Chou and Fasman (1974) Biochemistry 13:211-222, in conjunction with an analysis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of the protein as taught by Hopp and Woods (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:3824-3828. Alternatively, the DNA sequences encoding the polypeptide regions which react with particular monoclonal antibodies may be identified by the high-density phage procedure described by Nunberg et al. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3675-3679. The oligopeptide may then be screened for eliciting Ab cross-reactive with the naturally-occuring MOMP.

A number of techniques are available for synthesizing short, single-stranded DNA fragments, e.g., the phosphoramidite method described by Beaucage and Carruthers (1981) Tetrahedron Lett. 22:1859-1862. A particularly useful adaptation of the method of Beaucage and Carruthers is reported by Warner et al. (1984) DNA 3:401-411. Using the method of Urdea et al., single-stranded DNA fragments having a length of up to 100 bases may be synthesized, and double-stranded DNA fragments may be formed by annealing and ligating a plurality of single-stranded fragments under appropriate conditions. Alternatively, the complementary strand may be added using DNA polymerase with an appropriate primer sequence.

When preparing synthetic MOMP polynucleotides, it may sometimes be desirable to modify the natural nucleotide sequence. For example, it will often be preferred to use codons which are preferentially recognized by the desired host. When employing a yeast host, codons which appear at high frequency in the structural genes encoding the yeast glycolytic enzymes may be employed. In some instances, it may be desirable to further alter the nucleotide sequence to create or remove restriction sites to increase stability or to substitute one or more amino acids in the resulting polypeptide. Such changes may be made to enhance the immunogenicity of the polypeptide, facilitate conjugating the polypeptide to a carrier protein, or the like. It may also be desirable to add amino acids to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the polypeptide, where such additional amino acids provide for a desired result.

To produce a desired MOMP polypeptide, the MOMP polynucleotides will be incorporated into DNA constructs capable of being introduced into a desired expression host, usually either a prokaryotic host or eukaryotic host, such as yeast. Such DNA constructs will include the MOMP polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide product, transcriptional and translational initiation regulatory sequences joined to the 5'-end of the polynucleotide, and transcriptional and translational termination regulatory sequences joined to the 3'-end of the polynucleotide. The DNA constructs will usually also include a replication system recognized by the expression host to allow for self-replication, and will often include other functional sequences such as markers allowing for selection of transformed hosts, additional replication systems, secretory leader and processing signal sequences, and the like. The replication system, however, is not necessary since the DNA construct may allow for integration into the host genome. Integration is facilitated by providing short DNA fragments on either side of the MOMP polynucleotide, which fragments are homologous to a desired location in the host genome.

The transcriptional initiation regulatory sequences will include a promoter region recognized by the expression host. For E. coli hosts, the lac promoter, lambda P_(L) or P_(R), or the β-galactosidase promoter, as exemplified in the Experimental section hereinafter, are suitable. For yeast hosts, suitable promoters include those involved with the enzymes in a yeast glycolytic pathway, such as the promoters for alcohol dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, triose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucoisomerase, phosphofructokinase, and the like. By employing these promoters with other regulatory sequences, such as enhancers, operators, and the like, and using a host having an intact regulatory system, one can regulate the expression of the MOMP polypeptide by a number of techniques, such as varying the carbon source, e.g., replacing glucose with galactose; varying the concentration of a nutrient, e.g., acid phosphatase, or changing the temperature with a temperature sensitive promoter or regulatory system.

The transcriptional termination regulatory sequence will include a terminator, preferably a terminator balanced with the promoter to provide proper transcription. Conveniently, the terminator which is naturally found with the promoter may be employed. In the exemplary embodiment described in the Experimental section hereinafter, the MOMP polynucleotide is inserted between the β-galactosidase promoter and terminator within the β-galactosidase structural gene so that a fusion product is formed.

Enhanced yields of the polypeptides of the present invention may be obtained by employing DNA constructs which include a secretory leader and processing signal sequence to effect secretion of the gene product in yeast. The use of such secretory leader and processing signal sequences will be particularly effective with polypeptides below about 40 kilodaltons, more usually below about 30 kilodaltons, although it is expected that the system will function with polypeptides equal to the length of the whole MOMP, i.e., ranging from 38 to 45 kilodaltons. The secretory leader and processing signal sequences will normally be derived from naturally-occurring DNA sequences in yeast which provide for secretion of a polypeptide. Such polypeptides which are naturally secreted by yeast include α-factor, α-factor, acid phosphatase, and the like. If desired, the naturally-occurring sequence may be modified, for example, by reducing the number of lys-arg pairs in α-factor which define the processing site (while retaining at least one pair), or by reducing the length of the secretory leader sequence (while retaining sufficient length to provide for secretion) or by introducing point mutations, deletions or other modifications which facilitate manipulation, e.g., introducing restriction recognition sites. Conveniently, the secretory leader and processing signal sequence may be joined to the MOMP polynucleotide by providing appropriate cohesive ends on the polynucleotide fragment, by use of appropriate adaptor molecules, or a combination of both. A portion of the structural gene for the secretory protein may be left in the final DNA construct when it is desired to produce a fused translation product, as discussed above.

Polypeptides of the present invention may also be recovered intracellularly as follows. After the transformed cell culture has reached a high density, the cells will be separated, typically by centrifugation, lysed, and the MOMP polypeptides isolated and purified by various techniques, such as extraction, affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, dialysis, and combinations thereof.

The MOMP polypeptides may also be prepared by conventional solid-phase synthesis techniques, such as those described by Merrifield (1963) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2156. Such solid-phase techniques are suitable for preparation of polypeptide fragments of up to about 50 to 100 amino acids, or more. Generally, however, as the length of the polypeptide increases above 25 amino acids, the difficulty in the synthesis increases and the desirability of employing a solid-phase synthesis technique diminishes.

The polypeptides of the present invention, and fragments thereof, may be employed in a variety of ways. The polypeptides can be employed both as labelled and unlabelled reagents in various immunoassays, bioassays, and the like, for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis or antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in a biological sample, e.g., serum. Suitable labels include radionuclides, enzymes, fluorescers, chemiluminescers, enzyme substrates or co-factors, enzyme inhibitors, particles, dyes, and the like. Such labelled reagents may be used in a variety of well known assays, such as radioimmunoassays, enzyme immunoassays, e.g., ELISA, fluorescent immunoassays, and the like. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,766,162; 3,791,932; 3,817,837; 3,996,345; and 4,233,402. Polypeptides of the present invention may also find use in vaccines against infection by Chlamydia trachomatis. Larger polypeptides, having a molecular weight exceeding about 5,000 daltons, may be used without further modification. Smaller haptens (i.e., those below about 5 kD), however, should be conjugated to an appropriate immunogenic carrier in order to elicit the desired immune response. Suitable immunogenic carriers include tetanus toxoid and hepatitis B surface antigen. It will be possible to link short DNA fragments expressing the MOMP polypeptides to genes expressing proteins from other pathogenic organisms or viruses. In this way, the resulting fused proteins may provide immunity against more than one disease.

In preparing a vaccine, the polypeptides will normally be incorporated in a physiologically acceptable medium, such as water, physiological saline, phosphate buffered saline, and the like. The vaccine may be administered intravenously, intraarterially, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, or the like. The amount of immunogen employed per dose will be about 5 to 10 micrograms, if liquid, in a volume of about 0.25 to 1 ml, and may be administered repeatedly at about 2 to 4 week intervals, usually not more than 2 or 3 times.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be employed as labelled polynucleotide probes suitable for screening biological samples for the presence of various strains of Chlamydia trachomatis. Probes comprising DNA or RNA from conserved regions of the MOMP gene may be employed for detecting a broad range of Chlamydia, while probes comprising regions of the MOMP gene specific for a particular strain may be employed to identify that strain. The polynucleotide sequences in such probes will typically be at least 12 nucleotides, more typically 16 or more nucleotides. Conveniently, the nucleotide fragment may be synthesized based on the sequence set forth in FIG. 1 hereinafter.

Suitable labels include radionuclides, heavy metals, organic ligands, and the like, which allow for detection in conventional assays. Biological samples will be prepared in a conventional manner, e.g., by lysing the Chlamydia to release the nucleic acids.

EXPERIMENTAL

The following experiments are offered by way of illustration, not by way of limitation.

Materials and Methods

Reagents

DNase, RNase, endonuclease restriction enzymes, T4 ligase, kinase, DNA Polymerase I, and EcoRI methylase were obtained from Bethesda Research Laboratories. Nitrocellulose was obtained from Schleicher and Schuell. Peroxidase conjugated anti-mouse, anti-rabbit, and peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) sera were obtained from Cappell. Proteinase K, isopropylthiogalactoside (IPTG), and 4-chloro-1-naphthol were from Sigma Chemical Co. Phage packaging mix was obtained from Amersham. CNBr-activated Sepharose® (a trademark of Pharmacia Inc. for agarose bead)-4B was obtained from Pharmacia.

Bacterial Strains

E. coli Y1088, Y1089, Y1090, and 3NN 97 were obtained from R. Young and R. Davis (Stanford University). For C. trachomatis, two trachoma strains, B/TW-5/OT, and C/TW-3/OT, and one LGV strain, L₂ /434/Bu, were grown in HeLa 229 cells and Renografin purified as described by Kuo et al. (1977) in: "Nongonococcal Urethritis and Related Infections," Hobson and Holmes, eds., Am. Soc. Microbiol. pp. 176-185.

Antibodies

Polyvalent antiserum to C. trachomatis was obtained from rabbits immunized with purified LGV (L₂ serovar) organisms that were grown in chick embryo yolk sacs. Anti-E. coli reactivities in this antiserum were removed by passage through a Sepharose®-4B column derivitized with an E. coli lysate. For this purpose, approximately 20 mg of DNase and RNase treated lysate of induced BNN 97 were coupled to 1 mg of CNBr-activated Sepharose®-4B according to the manufacturer's instructions. The development, specificities, and ascites production of monoclonal antibodies specific for C. trachomatis have been previously reported (Stephens et al. (1982) J. Immunol. 128:1083).

Insertion of Chlamydial DNA into λgtll

Chlamydial DNA was isolated from cell extracts of serovars L₂, B, and C by proteinase K treatment (65 μg/ml, 45° C., 1 hr.) and solubilization in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Following phenol extraction, the preparations were treated with 50 μg/ml RNase (60° C., 30 min.), phenol/chloroform extracted-, and ethanol precipitated. Standard procedures were used for enzymatic reactions and for isolation of λ phage DNA (Molecular Cloning Maniatis et al. Cold Springs Harbor Lab., 1982). Chlamydial DNA from serovar L₂ (150 μg) was partially digested with DNase I as previously described (Ruther et al. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:6852). Digested DNA was fractionated in a 1.25% agarose gel, and 500-2000 base pair fractions were collected on Whatman DE-81 paper and eluted as previously described (Dretzen et al. (1981) Annals of Biochem. 112:295). After treatment with DNA polymerase I, the DNA was methylated with EcoRI methylase, and 2 μg of this preparation were ligated to phosphorylated EcoRI linkers with T4 ligase. These fragments were then cleaved with EcoRI endonuclease and fractionated on a Sepharose® G-150 column. Chlamydial DNA fractions were pooled and ethanol precipitated, and 20 ng of the chlamydial DNA were ligated to 1 μg of EcoRI cleaved λgtll. The EcoRI site is located within the β-galactosidase gene under the regulatory control of the β-galactosidase promoter and terminator. The ligated DNA was packaged into phage according to the manufacturer's instructions. Phage were plated and amplified in E. coli Y1088, and approximately 2×10⁵ recombinant phages were obtained.

Screening of Recombinant Phages

E. coli Y1090 was infected with recombinant phage preparations that resulted in approximately 10⁴ plaque forming units (PFU) per 150 mm plate. Plates were initially incubated at 42° C. until small plaques became visible (approx. 5 hrs.). Plates were then overlayed with IPTG saturated nitrocellulose disks and incubated an additional 2 hrs. at 37° C. The nitrocellulose disks were carefully removed from the plates, rinsed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) to remove any residual agar, and blocked in PBS containing 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 60 min. at 37° C. to prevent subsequent nonspecific adsorption of protein. The disks were incubated with monoclonal antibodies (1:1000 dilution in PBS containing 0.05% Tween®-20) for 2 hr., at room temperature or overnight at 4° C. The disks were washed for 1 hr. with 6 changes of PBS-Tween® (a trademark of ICI Americas, Inc. for polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate) and incubated with peroxidase-conjugated, anti-mouse antibody (1:2000) for 1 hr. at room temperature, followed by a 1 hr. incubation with peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP)(1:2000 dilution). The disks were then washed with 6 changes of PBS-Tween® followed by 2 changes of PBS. The immune reactions were detected by adding 0.5 mg/ml of 4-chloro-1-naphthol and 0.001% H₂ O₂ in PBS and agitated for 5-15 min. Plaques showing positive reactions were selected, plated at low densities, and reassayed with antibody. This process was repeated until all plaques were reactive.

Analysis of Proteins by SDS-PAGE and Immunoblotting

Lysogens were produced from selected λgtll recombinants by infecting E. coli Y1089 as previously described by Young and Davis (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:1194. Lysates from induced recombinant lysogens were prepared, and 20 μg aliquots were electrophoresed on 7.5% or 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE) according to Laemmli (1970) Nature 227:680. The proteins in some gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, while those from other gels were electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose for immunoblotting, as described by Towbin (1979) Proc. Natl. Acac. Sci. USA 76:4350-4354. Following electrophoretic transfer, nitrocellulose sheets were blocked in 5% BSA and probed with either a 1:1000 dilution of rabbit polyvalent anti-C. trachomatis antiserum or mouse ascites containing high titered monoclonal antibody. Immune reactions were detected as described above for the screening of recombinant plaques, except that the PAP step was omitted: Prestained molecular weight standards were: myosin (200,000), phosphorylase B (92,500), BSA (68,000), ovalbumin (43,000), chymotrypsinogen (25,700), lactoglobulin (18,400), and cytochrome C (12,300) (Bethesda Research Laboratories).

Characterization of λgtll/L2/33 Insert DNA

λgtll/L2/33 insert DNA was obtained from EcoRI digests of the recombinant phage and separated on agarose gels. For dot blot hybridization, ³² P-labelled insert DNA was reacted with lysates of C. trachomatis serovars A/G-17/OT, B/TW-5/OT, Ba/AP-2/OT, C/TW-3/OT, D/UW-3/Cx, E/UW-5/Cx, F/UW-6/Cx, G/UW-57, H/UW-43/Cx, I/UW-12/Ur, J/UW-36/Cx, K/UW-53/Cx, L₁ /440/Bu, L₂ /434/Bu, L₃ /404/Bu, C. psittaci strain Mn, and HeLa 229 host cells. Lysates were prepared from approximately 10 μg of each chlamydial strain by proteinase K digestion (1 mg/ml in 10 mM Tris, pH 8.5, and 1 mM EDTA) for 1.5 hr. at 37° C. Samples were made to 0.2N NaOH, heated to 100° C. for 5 min., and placed on ice. The NaOH was neutralized with one volume of cold 0.2M acetic acid, followed by 0.5 volume of cold 20×SSC. The samples were filtered through nitrocellulose sheets and the sheets were washed with 6×SSC, air dried and baked 3 hr. at 80° C. The sheets were probed with ³² P-labelled λgtll/L2/33 insert at 65° C. by standard procedures (Molecular Cloning supra.) Southern blots of BamHI-digested C. trachomatis DNA and endonuclease restriction mapping of the λgtll/L2/33 insert were performed by standard procedures (Molecular Cloning supra.).

Insertion of Chlamydial DNA into λ 1059

A library of chlamydial genomic DNA was produced in the bacteriophage lambda 1059 system, which cloning system was described by Karn et al. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:5172-5176. C. trachomatis L₂ DNA was randomized by partial digestion with endonuclease restriction enzyme Sau3A or cleaved with BamHI and ligated to BamHI digested vector. Ligated DNA was packaged in vitro, as described by Sternberg et al. (1977) Gene 1:255-280, and plated in E. coli Q359 for screening as described in Karn et al. (1980) supra. Phages were plated in E. coli Q359 at densities of approximately 3×10³ plaque forming units per 150 mm plate. The plates were overlayed with nitrocellulose disks and the disks containing plaque adsorbed DNA were air dried and baked 3 hr at 80° C. The disks were probed with ³² P labelled λgtll/L2/33 insert DNA at 60° C. by standard procedures (Molecular Cloning, supra). Several plaques that produced strong signals were picked and reassayed as above until all plaques from a clone were uniformly reactive. DNA was isolated from the selected phage recombinants by standard procedures (Molecular Cloning, supra). Two clones were mapped by endonuclease restriction analysis and Southern blotting by standard procedures (Molecular Cloning, supra). Both λ1059 recombinants had more than one BamHI insert, however, bands with identical gel mobilities were identified which were not shared with bands from the vector, and some of these bands hybridized to the insert DNA probes in Southern blots. This process permitted mapping of contiguous endonuclease restriction sites that flanked the location of the homolog to the λgtll/L2/33 insert. The map obtained by endonuclease restriction analyses was verified by generating subclones of specific fragments in a plasmid vector (pUC 18), and predicted cross-hybridizations between these clones and with the λ1059 recombinants were observed in Southern blots. Fragments that included the putative coding region and flanking regions were used for DNA sequencing.

Results

Detection of Chlamydial Antigens

DNA obtained from C. trachomatis serovar L₂ was partially digested with DNase I and inserted into the bacteriophage vector λgtll. The resulting plaques were transferred to nitrocellulose for the direct detection of C. trachomatis-specific antigens. Polyvalent anti-L₂ rabbit serum detected seven plagues that produced strong immune reactions from among the 2×10⁴ recombinant plaques assayed. The positive plaques were replated at low densities and screened with polyvalent antiserum.

After plaque purification, the seven recombinants were tested with a pool of monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibody pool consisted of four antibodies (2C1, 2G1, 2H2, AE11) that each bind a mutually exclusive MOMP determinant (Stephens et al. (1982) supra.) One of the clones, designated λgtll/L2/33, reacted with the pool of antibodies, while the other six recombinant clones did not. Subsequently, λgtll/L2/33 was tested with each of over 15 monoclonal antibodies representing species-, subspecies-, and type-specific anti-chlamydial reaction patterns. The specificities of the antibodies and their reaction pattern with λgt/ll/L2/33 are presented in Table 1. The reaction pattern demonstrated that λgtll/L2/33 was producing a polypeptide that displays species-, subspecies-, and type-specific epitopes of the chlamydial MOMP. The lack of reaction of λgtll/L2/33 to antibodies not reactive with the L₂ serovar was expected since the recombinant was derived from serovar L₂ DNA. Two antibodies (AE11 and 3H10) that do react with native L₂ MOMP did not react with the polypeptide expressed by λgtll/L2/33 using this plague assay. The two antibodies, however, gave positive reactions with λgtll/L2/33 expressed polypeptide in immunoblotting.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Monoclonal                                                                               Serovar           Reaction with                                      Antibody No.                                                                             Specificities     gt11/L2/33                                         ______________________________________                                         2C1, IH8  all serovars      +                                                  AE11      all serovars except C                                                                            -*                                                 3H10      A,B,D,E,F,G,H,K,L1,L2,L3                                                                         -*                                                 KG5       B,D,E,F,G,H,K,L1,L2,L3                                                                           +                                                  DA10      B,D,E,G,F,L1,L2,L3                                                                               +                                                  2G3       B,D,E,K,L1,L2,L3  +                                                  2G1       B,F,G,H,K,L2,L3   +                                                  3H1, 2IIE3                                                                               B,D,E,L1,L2       +                                                  JC8       B,D,G,F,L2        +                                                  FE10      E,G,F,L2          +                                                  JG1       B,D,E,L2          +                                                  2H2, 2H5  L2                +                                                  1B7, DD1  B                 -                                                  2B1       C,J               -                                                  FC2       F                 -                                                  JG9       D                 -                                                  ______________________________________                                          *Positive reaction obtained by immunoblotting.                           

Analysis of Recombinant Fusion Polypeptides

E. coli lysogens were prepared for each of the positive λgtll clones to provide a source of fusion polypeptides for analysis. Lysates obtained from induced lysogens were assessed by Coomassie blue stained PAGE gels and by immunoblotting of the proteins that were electrophoretically transferred from PAGE gels to nitrocellulose. The molecular weights of these fusion proteins were estimated to range from 132,000 to 146,000.

Immunoblot analysis of PAGE gels using polyvalent rabbit anti-L₂ revealed that each of the seven clones produced strong reactions in the plaque assay. The λgtll/L2/33 product stained most intensely, while the products from two other recombinants stained very faintly. Immunoblot analysis was also performed with the monoclonal antibodies. Of the seven recombinants, only λgtll/L2/33 reacted with monoclonal antibodies as expected from the results on the plaque assays with these same antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies that recognized species-specific and subspecies-specific determinants on L₂ chlamydial MOMP reacted strongly with the polypeptide produced by λgtll/L2/33, while the L₂ type-specific monoclonal antibodies produced negative or equivocal reactions.

Characterization of λgtll/L2/33 Insert DNA

DNA from the λgtll/L2/33 recombinant was isolated, labelled with ³² P, and used to probe dot blots of each of the 15 C. trachomatis serovars, the Mn strain of C. psittaci, and HeLa 229 host cells. Reactions were detected with all chlamydiae but not with HeLa 229 host cell DNA. Furthermore, Southern blots of BamHI digests of C. trachomatis DNA obtained from serovars L₂, B. and C revealed one fragment in each preparation which reacted with ³² P-labelled insert DNA from λgtll/L2/33. The molecular weight of this fragment varied slightly between serovars but was approximately 9.4 kb.

Preparations of λgtll/L2/33 insert DNA were obtained from EcoRI digests and separated on agarose gels. The insert was estimated to be about 1.7 kb in length with restriction sites for HaeII, HaeIII, HhaI, and XhoI. Restriction sites for AccI, BamHI, BclI, BstEII, EcoRI, EcoRV, PstI, PvuI, SstI, and SstII were not detected.

The approximately 1.1 kb insert DNA was sequenced by standard techniques, and the sequence is set forth in FIG. 1.

Sequencing of λ 1059 Inserts

Lambda 1059 recombinants having 9.2 to 9.8 kb inserts that were shown to be homologous with λgtll/L2/33 by Southern analysis were used for endonuclease restriction mapping, and additional Southern analyses. Two contiguous fragments (BamHI/EcoRI and EcoRI/EcoRI) were identified, and these contain sufficient base pairs to encode for the L₂ MOMP gene product. These fragments were cloned into M13 for DNA sequencing. The sequence data for a 9.2 kb fragment (designated L2 B9-F DNA) are set forth in FIG. 2.

The sequence includes an untranslated region comprising 1287 bases, followed by a 66 base region encoding a 22 amino acid leader sequence. Coding for the MOMP begins at base 67 (amino acid 23) and extends through base number 1182 (amino acid 394). The molecular weight for the MOMP including the leader is calculated to be 42,557 daltons.

The N-terminus of the MOMP was located on the basis of the 25 amino acid N-terminus reported by Nano et al. (1985) supra. Differences in the sequences of the N-terminus reported by Nano et al. and that reported herein are found at amino acid residues 32, 44, and 45, as numbered in FIG. 2. These differences may result from differences among the isolates or mistakes in amino acid sequencing.

The sequence set forth in FIG. 1 corresponds to amino acids 247 through the 3'-terminus in FIG. 2, with certain deviations. Bases 36-38 in FIG. 1 are AGA, corresponding to amino acids GlyGlu, while bases 773-775 in FIG. 2 are TGT, corresponding to amino acids GlyVal. These deviations are underlined in both Figures. The DNA sequence corresponding to amino acids 305 through 394 in FIG. 1 has several deviations from FIG. 2 which result in a different reading frame for the sequence of FIG. 2. Base numbers 174, 181, and 186 in FIG. 1 were not detected in the λ 1059 clones. Base number 35 in FIG. 2 is a T, while the corresponding base in FIG. 2 (in amino acid 357) is a C. Finally, a G is inserted in amino acid 358 and a G is inserted in amino acid 374 in the sequence of FIG. 2. In both FIGS. 1 and 2, bases which are inserted or changed relative to the other Appendix are boxed, while deleted bases are indicated by an arrow. Both the DNA and amino acid sequences of FIG. 2 are believed to be correct.

According to the subject invention, novel recombinant DNA constructs are provided for the expression of a polypeptide having immunological activity corresponding to that of a naturally-occurring major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis. Such polypeptides may find use as reagents in the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis or antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, and as vaccines against infection by Chlamydia trachomatis in susceptible hosts.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant or synthetic polypeptide which elicits the production of antibodies to a Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis having a molecular weight from 38 kD to about 45 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE.
 2. The recombinant or synthetic polypeptide of claim 1 comprising at least 12 and fewer than 100 amino acid residues from the amino acid sequence of a Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis.
 3. The recombinant or synthetic polypeptide of claim 2 comprising fewer than 25 amino acid residues.
 4. The recombinant or synthetic polypeptide of claim 1, having a contiguous amino acid sequence from Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 as depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG.
 2. 5. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 produced by expressing in a cellular host a DNA construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding said polypeptide.
 6. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the cellular host is Escherichia coli.
 7. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the MOMP polynucleotide is at least 27 base pairs in length.
 8. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the MOMP polynucleotide encodes for substantially the entire length of MOMP.
 9. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the MOMP polynucleotide sequence is expressed with a second polynucleotide sequence operatively associated to form a fused translation product.
 10. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the second polynucleotide sequence encodes an immunogenic carrier.
 11. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the immunogenic carrier is tetanus toxoid or hepatitis B surface antigen.
 12. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the second polynucleotide sequence encodes at least a portion of a secretory protein.
 13. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the second polynucleotide sequence encodes a secretory leader sequence or a processing signal.
 14. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the second polynucleotide sequence encodes at least a portion of β-galactosidase.
 15. The synthetic polypeptide of claim 1 comprising fewer than 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide is specifically immunoreactive with a monoclonal antibody which recognizes a species specific epitope of Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP.
 16. The recombinant or synthetic polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the antibodies are cross-reactive with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2.
 17. An immunoassay for the detection of the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis or antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in a biological sample, comprising:contacting said biological sample with a recombinant or synthetic polypeptide cross-reactive with antibodies to a Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis, allowing an immune reaction to occur between said recombinant or said synthetic polypeptide and said Chlamydia trachomatis or said antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in said biological sample, and detecting said immune reaction between said recombinant or said synthetic polypeptide and said Chlamydia trachomatis or said antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in said biological sample, and therefrom the presence of said Chlamydia trachomatis or said antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in said biological sample.
 18. The immunoassay of claim 17, wherein said recombinant or said synthetic polypeptide further comprises a detectable label.
 19. The immunoassay of claim 17, wherein the recombinant or the synthetic polypeptide has an amino acid sequence from Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 as depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG.
 2. 20. The immunoassay of claim 17, wherein the recombinant or the synthetic polypeptide is at least twelve and fewer than 100 contiguous amino acid residues from the Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP as depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG.
 2. 21. The immunoassay of claim 20, wherein the recombinant or the synthetic polypeptide further comprises a detectable label. 